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December 8 • 2011
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radio station — a critical communi-
cation channel for the Jewish world
based on the business models, the
aesthetics, and `best practices' of the
very best online radio stations offered
in the Christian and secular worlds,"
explained Recht, executive director of
Jewish Rock Radio.
"When we dug deeper to find the
developer behind some of the sta-
tions we wished to emulate, we found
jacApps. With jacApps, we had found
a developer who could not only create
apps that were on caliber with some of
our favorite Christian stations, but liter-
ally had created some of those apps!"
The Jacobs brothers see themselves
as improving the radio experience in
the 21st century by helping radio sta-
tions create something that will gener-
ate revenue, enchant their audience
and help them better distribute their
content in the digital age.
Branching Out
While radio was their springboard
into the mobile application industry,
jacAPPS now designs and builds apps
for a wide array of business catego-
ries and industries including festi-
vals, events and sports brands. The
Southfield-based company, which was
spun off from Jacobs Media this sum-
mer, has created apps for the Spartan
Sports Network, Ann Arbor Art Fairs,
the Detroit International Jazz Festival
and the Taste of Atlanta. The company
is looking forward to creating apps for
political candidates as the upcoming
election approaches.
One difficulty for jacAPPS has
been the lack of compatibility across
platforms. They have had to create
separate custom apps for their clients
on Apple devices as well as on the
Android and Blackberry platforms.
Since its launch in 2008, jacAPPS
has created more than 500 apps for
hundreds of clients. Crains Detroit
wrote that with more than 11 million
downloads, it "is by far the leading app
developer in Metro Detroit."
What has set them apart is their
ability to build a company's entire
mobile strategy from the concept of
the app to its design through develop-
ment and marketing. In today's por-
table world, Fred and Paul Jacobs have
figured out how to elevate their clients'
brands and to successfully integrate
that into the dynamic mobile space.
The jacAPPS team is made up of a
handful of young, talented employees
who are several decades younger than
the Jacobs brothers. They all seem to
understand that mobile applications
are the next step in the technology
revolution.
"We are now where we were with
websites in the '90s',' said Bryan Steckler,
operations manager. "Big brands have
mobile apps, and now every business is
realizing they need an app."
The two brothers enjoy work-
ing together in the same business.
Pointing to his younger brother, Fred
said, "If you can't trust this guy, who
could you trust?"
They are quick to acknowledge
that they would not be as close if they
weren't in business together.
"It's a family business and that leads
to group collaboration:' Steckler said.
"The fact that they're brothers is what
makes the company what it is. And
that transfers to our clients as well."
Fred Jacobs said, "We've been for-
tunate to build a team of smart, young
talented people here in Southeast
Michigan. Our apps are truly 'exported
from Detroit; and showcase the resur-
gence of the technology industry in an
area more commonly recognized for
its heavy industry.
"We see nothing but growth and
expansion ahead. By blending strategy,
research and keeping a laser focus on
the consumer experience, our expec-
tation is that jacAPPS will become a
leader in full-service mobile resource
for brands of all types that recognize
the mobile future."
The company has had its share of
proud moments: JacAPPS has had the
top app in the App Store in New Zealand;
its NPR Radio app was featured on the
front page of the U.S.App Store; and its
app for Pulse 88.7 in New York was fea-
tured on a billboard for Apple.
JacAPPS has developed a number
of mobile apps for nonprofit compa-
nies at either no cost or discounted
rates. Among its clients is a Native
American Council made up of several
tribes. JacAPPS has created an educa-
tional application to teach the Native
American language to children. As the
development team demonstrates the
app on an iPad, it is clear they under-
stand the role they have played in the
continuity of the tribes' heritage.
Paul Jacobs held his iPhone and,
with a smile, said, "We're never more
than 6 feet away from this device. This
is the one device that's always with you,
and the one that you'll return home for
in the morning if you forgot it. It is the
hub of a person's identity."
The phrase "there's an app for that"
has become a popular punchline, and
much of that can be attributed to Fred
and Paul Jacobs and their creativity. I
Jason A. Miller is an entrepreneurial rabbi
and technologist. He is president of Access
Computer Technology in West Bloomfield,
which specializes in IT support and social
media marketing. He writes a monthly JN
column and Wogs at blog.rabbijason.com .
Follow him on Twitter at @rabbijason.